On a sunny Saturday afternoon in October, flanked by the first rains of the season, Swinerton Management & Consulting’s (SMC) Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC) project celebrated its ribbon-cutting and soft opening.

Approximately 500 people attended to the ceremony which started with traditional lion dancing, welcoming remarks and the singing of our national anthem and the Vietnamese national anthem by two very talented young singers. Guest dignitaries included Santa Clara County Supervisors Cindy Chavez, Senator Dave Cortese, both champions of the VASC project. Additional speakers included Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, San Jose Councilmember Maya Esparza and General Nguyen Khac Binh. As all the invited officials were getting ready to cut the ribbon, a hail of firecrackers exploded at the height of the ceremony.

Located near the intersection of Tully and Senter Roads in San Jose, the VASC project is a $33.9M, 37,000 square foot, 3 story community services facility providing initial medical, behavioral, and social services offered by the County to the underserved Vietnamese community.

“Santa Clara County is made up of many cultures and languages. The completion and opening of the VASC is a significant milestone in our goal to more fully represent our unique communities,” said County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “I’m extremely proud of the work that has been done to get us here and to have a County-operated center that offers services to our residents in a way that respects and celebrates the rich diversity they bring to our area.”

SMC has been involved with the project since early 2018 and our services included Programming, Design Development and Construction Document oversight, in addition to oversight of its 24-month construction duration.

Congratulations to the Project Team: Project Executive Bob Kagiyama, Senior Project Manager Albert Wege, and Assistant Project Manager Parth Patel.